Efficiency of generalized simulated annealing

We have explored the evolution of the efficiency of generalized simulated a nnealing (GSA) through a comparative study with classical simulated anneali ng (CSA) and fast simulated annealing (FSA). Our calculations on the Thomso n model and nickel clusters show that the relative efficiency of GSA compar ed to CSA and FSA increases with the number of variables of the objective f unction. Thus, relative to CSA and FSA, the more complex the system, the mo re efficient is the GSA method.